Anti-pollution device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an anti-pollution system for removing pollutants from the operation of a furnace and includes a power operation recovery and extraction system for the effluvia emitted therefrom and includes as a part of the system fluid treatment chambers and a plurality of filters which form the precipitatorcollector means, the various embodiments being combinable with a superheater construction.

Unite States ?atent Curtis 1 1 Feb. 12, 1974 ANTI-POLLUTION DEVICE 3,353,335 11 /1967 Caballero 261/18 R 2 3 9 8 19 K 110 8 R [76] Inventor ve'mie Curtis Beaver 3 2231% 7/1938 sixes 1 111 /119 y- 42320 2,833,528 5/1958 Schroeder 261/17 Filed: y 1971 2,951,457 9/1960 Kneass 110/160 PP NOJ 1601700 Primary ExaminerJohn J. Camby Assistant Examiner-James C. Yeung 521 US. (:1 110/8 R, 110/119, 261/17 Attorney, Agent, Firm-Edwin Greigg [51] Int. Cl. F23g 3/00 [58] Field of Search 110/8 R, 8 A, 10, 9 R, 119, [57] ABSTRACT 110/120;261/17 18 R The invention relates to an anti-pollution system for removing pollutants from the operation of a furnace [56] References Cited and includes a power operation recovery and extrac- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion system for the effluvia emitted therefrom and in- 1,939,949 12/1933 Bertram 261/121 eludes as a part of the system fluid treatment cham- 3,310,009 3/1967 Jacob 1 10/8 A bers and a plurality of filters which form the precipita- 3,572,264 3/1971 Mercer R tor-collector means, the various embodiments being 3,465,504 9/1969 Ompeza at 261/17 combinable with a superheater construction. 3,134,345 5/1964 King [IO/160 3,352,298 11/1967 Hope 110/97 R 14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEB FEB] 21974 SHEET 1 [1F 3 PATENTEI] FEB] 21974 SHEEI 2 OF 3 PATENTED FEB 1 2 I974 SHEET 3 OF 3 HGIO I v f ATTORNEY ANTI-POLLUTION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art relating to precipitators is well known and includes various structures which are operated both mechanically and electrically and although the art is extremely highly developed, it is not now known of the existence of any system that functions in the manner to be described herein.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the invention is to introduce into the products of combustion or effluvia produced by a furnace a steady and constant stream of atmospheric air, the latter being drawn into and intermingled with the smoke by a fluid transport medium, such as a pump.

It is a further object of the invention to arrange the air transport medium either between the furnace and the first fluid treatment vessel, or between the several fluid treatment vessels.

It is another object of the invention to provide each fluid treatment vessel with a spray system that will produce a dense fine fog spray that will separate the products of combustion from the air and accumulate them in a sump in the vessel.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an additional chamber into which a series of filter elements are positioned, the arrangement being such that the input of effluvia is traversed sequentially through each filter with the effluent being discharged to atmosphere.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a valve means in the feed line extending between the furnace and the pump that feeds atmospheric air to the gas stream to further enhance combustion.

Further objects and advantages will become more apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with parts of the elements constituting the system shown in cross section;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view partially in cross section and partially in elevation of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view partially in cross section and partially in elevation of a further embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical cross sectional view of another embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a limited schematic view showing a pump with two discharge branch lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a view ofa furnace 10 which is depicted as being relatively small, but its size is not important to the invention now to be described, but is only by way of illustration and is only availed of to disclose a concept which is adaptable to much larger furnaces by limitedly modifying their overall design.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. ll, although not shown in this horizontal elevational view of the combined components comprising the system disclosed herein, there is provided means defining an opening in the top wall 12 of the furnace and over which the open lower end of the stack 14 is associated with the furnace fire tube for controlled emission of the products of combustion therefrom.

An examination of the stack 14 discloses that it is provided at the top with enclosure means 16 to prevent the products of combustion from being emitted, as normal, as in a chimney to atmosphere. The interior of the stack is divided into two longitudinally extending vertically disposed passageways, the updraft from the furnace being directed through the first shaft 18 by the flange element 20 which closes off the first shaft portion 18 from the second shaft portion 22, thus providing for the downdraft to the exit port 24.

It is to be noted that the baffle 26 which provides for the vertically spaced updraft and downdraft passages, respectively, terminates at a point beneath the closure cap, as shown. In this embodiment, the atmospheric air in the inlet port is positioned in the stack at a position spaced beneath the terminal portion of the baffle.

The exit port 24 communicates with feedline 30 that extends to the first cleansing or decontamination chamber 32 which as shown in the drawing includes a sump portion 34 whereinto at least a portion of the effluvia descends by reason of the fine dense fog spray that is created by the spray means 36. The source of supply for the water spray is not shown, but is emitted to the decontamination chamber through the inlet pipe indicated as 38. The sump in the first chamber is connected to a drain, not shown, so that the water and products of combustion can be constantly carried away and if desired, the water can be filtered and reused for the cleansing operation if the source of water supply is limited.

A suitable pump 40 driven by a motor, not shown, forms the means by which the forced draft is created at the port 28 in the stack 14. Any suitable pump means that is capable of introducing sufficient quantities of atmospheric air into the stack would depend largely on the size of the furnace, the caliber of the stack as well as its overall length and those skilled in this art will calibrate the requirements of the pump from all the determinants available.

As shown, the partially decontaminated air travels from the first decontaminant chamber through the pump housing and into the second decontaminant chamber where the second step in the liquid treatment takes place, thus further decontaminating the air in this chamber. As explained before in connection with the description of the functions of the first treatment chamber, the partially decontaminated air which is emitted through the pipeline 42 into the second spray chamber is once again subjected to a dense fog spray by means that further separate more of the solid matter from the initially decontaminated air. The efflux from the second chamber as explained earlier herein with respect to the first chamber is carried away from the sump through a discharge outlet not shown,

At the opposite end of the tank 48 forming the second decontaminating chamber there is provided an outlet pipe 50 and through which the further decontaminated air is introduced into the enclosure 52 which is comprised of a series of filters.

The decontaminated air is discharged into the closed receptacle 52 where it is caused to flow toward the filter box 54. This box which is of lesser height than the receptacle in which it is placed is of elongated form and is provided with an entrance portion into which the decontaminated air flows.

The filter box is provided in its top wall with a series of generally equal spaced slots and the opposed interior walls of the box are provided adjacent to each slot with suitable guide elements that confine the individual filter elements to a position in which they will than be sit uated in a predetermined path normal to the air flow through the filter box. Each filter element 56 is provided with a suitable handle means by which it can be quickly removed and replaced with a fresh, clean filter.

Upon traversing all the filter elements the clean, now completely decontaminated air, on the one hand, may be emitted to atmosphere pump pipe 58, or on the other hand, may be force-fed by the pump 40 either to ionizing or cooling apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown in cross section another form of the invention shown and described in FIG. 1 and in which the atmospheric air inlet port is positioned in proximity to the furnace 10. It has been found by experiment that this air inlet can be placed in different positions with varying degrees of success, although the preferred form of the invention is shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a further form of the invention wherein the air inlet port 28 is provided at a point 180 removed from that position shown in FIG. 1. This is contemplated as being useful in a stack construction where it would be necessary to prevent the prevailing winds from blowing directly into the air inlet port and the quantity of air necessary to successful operation having been previously ascertained.

In FIG. 5 is shown a further concept of an embodiment of this invention which provides for the principles thereof to be incorporated with an existing facility such as the tall stack denoted 60 in this view. In order to conform the stack 60 to the adaptor 62, some slight modification should be made adjacent to the top thereof so that the adaptor can be fitted snugly thereon. In FIG. 5 the adaptor is shown as telescoping the stack as at 64, however, it is to be understood that any manner of attaching the adaptor 62 to the stack is contemplated to be within the purview of the art.

In FIG. 6 is also shown an adaptor 65 which includes a reduced area 66 that telescopes over the top of stack 67. In this concept the adaptor has a throat area 68 in vertical axial alignment with the stack and to which the discharge pipe 30 is affixed. This type of adaptor is particularly useful with small stacks as well as stacks that are of lesser height.

It is to be understood also that the adaptors shown in FIG. 5 and 6 can be provided with a baffle means such as that shown at 26 in FIGS. 1 and 3, if desired.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a still further embodiment of the invention in which only the upper elements critical to the operation of the device are shown. Here the stack 70, with its lower end being associated with the means defining the opening in the wall of the furnace which communicates with the fire tube is provided at its upper end with a bevel portion 72, the extremity of which terminates slightly above the atmospheric air inlet 74 that is provided in the concentrically disposed shaft housing 76, this shaft functioning as the means to control the forced downdraft and direct it to the exit port. A baffle member 78 partially encircles the stack 70, thus crowding and directing the atmospheric air entering support 74 up and around the chamfered end of the stack so that intimate intermingling of the incoming air with the products of combustion will be achieved.

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 8, there is disclosed in this view a superheater construction which is combined with a decontaminant removal assembly. In this embodiment the stack 80 is associated with the furnace fire tube as explained before and includes an annular flange 82 the perimeter of which conforms to the interior wall of the concentric housing 84, the upper portion of the housing including a closure 86. The stack 80 has a throat portion 88, the upper portion of which melds into the baffle 90, the transverse vertical edges of the baffle being in engagement with the interior of the concentric housing 84 thereby providing an updraft shaft portion 92 and a downdraft shaft portion 94 which leads to the exit port 24a.

It is to be understood and believed to be clear from FIG. 8 that the portion of the concentric housing 84 which extends from the top wall 12 of the furnace 10 to the annular flange 82 is a completely enclosed sealed chamber except for the inlet connection 96 and the outlet connection 98. The perimeter of the annular flange 82 may be welded to the interior wall of the concentric tube 84 to provide the seal chamber, as explained. It will be apparent thatthis chamber can be utilized as a superheater for either water transmitted therethrough, which water can be availed of for manifold purposes such as household, heating, cooking, etc. Also, it is apparent that in lieu of feeding water through the superheater any other fluid such as air or gas may be passed therethrough for superheat purposes.

In FIG. 10 there is disclosed still another type of superheater construction which is combined with the improvements in anti-pollution devices disclosed herein. In this structure, the lower portion of the outer housing 100 is associated with a wall of the furnace surrounding the tire tube of the wall with its upper end closed by cap 102. The products of combustion from the furnace flows upwardly from the fire tube through the inner tube 104 to the chamfered top thereof where they intermingle with the incoming atmospheric air which enters tubular body 100 through port 106. The bottom of the tubular member 104 which is spaced a predetermined distance from the furnace includes an annular flange 108, as shown, which is secured at its perimeter in tight engagement, such as by welding to the inner wall of the outer concentric tube 100 with the space between the top of the furnace and the flange providng a superheater chamber within which is provided a water heating coil 112 having feed water inlet and outlet pipe sections 114 and 116, respectively, communicating with the tube 104. The door 118 positioned in the wall of member 104 is provided for removal of particulate material that accumulates on the upper surface of flange 108.

The embodiment of the invention in FIG. 11 has utility in large furnace installations particularly where the decontaminant portion of the apparatus may become overloaded because of the need to handle excessive quantities of products of combustion being emitted by a furnace. On the one hand, in the construction of FIG. 11, the capacity of the pump 40a may be substantially increased to compensate for the increased load or, on the other hand, supplementary pumps, now shown, may be inserted in the branch lines 1120 and 130, respectively.

Also, it is contemplated that due to possible excessive loads on the system an atmospheric air inlet port 132 may be provided in the exhaust line leading to the decontaminating chambers.

That which is claimed is:

1. An anti-pollution system for a furnace construction including a housing having a top wall and comprisng a fire chamber, a fire tube extending from said top wall, a stack having a length dimension greater than its width and including an open end at its bottom associated with said fire tube and a closure affixed to the opposite free end thereof, plural means defining openings in the length dimension of said stack, the first of said means defining an opening arranged for entrance of atmospheric air to further enhance combustion, and the second of said means defining an opening associated with means connecting said stack to a smoke decontaminating means, said decontaminating means further including first and second decontaminant chambers for passage of the smoke therethrough, each said chamber having an enclosed defined volume including means for treating in its respective defined volume the effluent from the furnace, forced draft assist means positioned between said chambers for drawing the smoke through the first decontaminant chamber and pumping the smoke through the second decontaminant chamber and ultimately to a final filter means before emmision to atmosphere.

2. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein baffle means are disposed interiorly and longitudinally of said stack.

3. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 2, wherein further means associating the baffle means with the stack is positioned beneath the means defining the opening in communication with the means connecting the stack to the smoke decontaminating means.

4. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim I, wherein the first of said means defining openings in said stack is positioned at least from said second means.

5. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second means defining the openings in said stack are perpendicularly disposed one above the other.

6. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the final filter means includes a chamber, said chamber being arranged to contain a plurality removable filter elements.

7. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stack comprises at least one tubular element.

8. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smoke decontaminating means includes means for introduction thereinto of a fluid medium.

9. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle is disposed concentric relative to the stack.

10. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stack includes a superheater chamber having fluid inlet and outlet means and the baffle extends through the superheater chamber.

11. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the concentric baffle includes a first lower portion of substantially tubular form and a second elongated flat portion associated therewith by a throat means.

12. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for connecting said stack to the smoke decontaminating means includes a branch for communication with a supplementary decontaminating means.

13. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a flow control means is interposed between the baffle means and the stack.

14. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second of said plural means defining an opening includes supplemental atmospheric air inlet 

1. An anti-pollution system for a furnace construction including a housing having a top wall and comprisng a fire chamber, a fire tube extending from said top wall, a stack having a length dimension greater than its width and including an open end at its bottom associated with said fire tube and a closure affixed to the opposite free end thereof, plural means defining openings in the length dimension of said stack, the first of said means defining an opening arranged for entrance of atmospheric air to further enhance combustion, and the second of said means defining an opening associated with means connecting said stack to a smoke decontaminating means, said decontaminating means further including first and second decontaminant chambers for passage of the smoke therethrough, each said chambEr having an enclosed defined volume including means for treating in its respective defined volume the effluent from the furnace, forced draft assist means positioned between said chambers for drawing the smoke through the first decontaminant chamber and pumping the smoke through the second decontaminant chamber and ultimately to a final filter means before emmision to atmosphere.
 2. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein baffle means are disposed interiorly and longitudinally of said stack.
 3. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 2, wherein further means associating the baffle means with the stack is positioned beneath the means defining the opening in communication with the means connecting the stack to the smoke decontaminating means.
 4. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first of said means defining openings in said stack is positioned at least 180* from said second means.
 5. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second means defining the openings in said stack are perpendicularly disposed one above the other.
 6. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the final filter means includes a chamber, said chamber being arranged to contain a plurality removable filter elements.
 7. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stack comprises at least one tubular element.
 8. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smoke decontaminating means includes means for introduction thereinto of a fluid medium.
 9. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle is disposed concentric relative to the stack.
 10. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stack includes a superheater chamber having fluid inlet and outlet means and the baffle extends through the superheater chamber.
 11. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the concentric baffle includes a first lower portion of substantially tubular form and a second elongated flat portion associated therewith by a throat means.
 12. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for connecting said stack to the smoke decontaminating means includes a branch for communication with a supplementary decontaminating means.
 13. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a flow control means is interposed between the baffle means and the stack.
 14. An anti-pollution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second of said plural means defining an opening includes supplemental atmospheric air inlet means. 